michon



I. H. M. MICHON. EXPANSIBLE WHEEL RIM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4. IQH.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

v 1. H. M. MICHON. EXPANSlBLE WHEEL RIM. APPLlCATlON F ILED APR.4.19II.

1,3 1%,41 L. Patented Aug. 26, 1019,

Z SHEETS-"SHEET 2 I H. M. M ichon 30 the rigid rim.

* UNITED s PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. M. MICHON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

EXPANSIBLE WHEEL-RIM.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Aug. 26. 1919.

Application filed April 4, 1917. Serial No. 159,708.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be .it known that I, Josnrn H. M. MIoHoN, a subject of the King of England residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansible Wheel- Rims, of which the following is a specification.

l This invention relates to an improved \tire rim for motor vehicles and has as its primary object to provide a structure whereby the tire may be easily and quickly placed upon or removed from the rim.

The invention has as a further object to provide a rim having a hinged rim sectionvwhich may be displaced so that the extremities of the rim body may move toward each other for freeing the tire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the hinged rim section will be connected with the ex- 1.trem1t1es of the'rim body 111 such manner that the said rim'section may be swung upon the body of the rim for spreading the ex- ,tremities thereof to expand the rim to its normal circumference for engagement with the tire and shifting the rim sectionto active position 'between the ends of the rim body with the said rim section completing The lnvention has as a still further object to provide a construction wherein the rim section will be automatically locked when swungto actlve position and wherein the hinge connectionsfor the said rim sectionasxwell as the locking means therefor will be disposed entirely upon the inner side of the rim and within the side lines thereof.

The invention has as a further object to 40 provide an arrangement wherein the hinged rim sectionwill be locked against lateral movement at its outer end and wherein a wedging. action will be produced between 3 the'locking member for the said section and {the l joints between the the said section will not when swung to n0- -tive position, pinch or cut the sides of the tire. I

"Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawmgsjwherein I have illustrated the referred embodiment of the invention an wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showmg my improved rim applied to a conventional type of vehicle wheel,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view particularly showing the mounting of the hinged section of the rim,

.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view more particularly illustrating the manner in which the hinged rini sect-ion is formed to fit between the ends of the rim body,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the hinged rim section moved to inactive position from between the ends of the rim body,

Fig. 5 is a sectional "iew taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and showing the manner in which the elements associated with the hinged rim section are adapted to fittogether, in the closed position of the said V section, and 1 lliig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the m hinged rim section with the rim body.

In carrying out the invention, proved rim is formed with a split body 10 with which is arranged to coact a rim section 11. The rim may be of any approved type and at one end, the body thereof is formed with a beveled edge 12 while the inner end of the rim section*11 is formed with a similarly beveled edge 13. Formed 1n the opposite end of the rim body between the side edges thereof is, a notch-I4 providing, as shall for the locking rib of a link plate connecting the outer end of the rim section with hinge lugs 17 having, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, terminalbeveled edges 18.

At the inner ends of the lugs 17. the plate is undercut to provide a beveled edge 19. Mounted upon the inner sideof the rim section 11 at the inner end thereof, is a hinge plate 20. This plate is similar to the plate 16 and may be formed integral with my impresently appear, a seat' This plate is formed with spaced i the rim section or otherwise secured thereto.

Formed on the plate 20 are spaced hinge lugs 21 mating with the hinge lugs 17 ot' the plate 16 and connected thereto .by a suitable pivot pin 22. The lugs 21 at. their outer ends are formed with beveled edges 23 adapted to mate with the beveled edge 19 of the plate 16 while the notches in the plate 20 receiving the lugs 17 are, as also particularly shown in Fig. 5,- formed with inner beveled edges 24 adapted to mate with the beveled edges 18 of the lugs 17 of the plate 16.

- Mounted upon. the inner side of the hinged rim section'l-l at the outer end thereof, is

a hinge plate 25; This plate is similar to theplates 16 and and'may also bet'ormed integral with the hinged rim section or otherwise secured thereto. In this connection, it will be observed that the plate 16 serves to reinforce the adjacent terminal of the rim body l0while the plates 20 and serve I to reinforce the terminals of the hinged rim section. If desired, the plates 20 and 25 may be formed integral to extend the entire length of the rim section and-thus act as a reinforcing member extending from end to end of the said section. The plate 25 is formed with notches opening through the bottom wall of-the hinged rim section and provided wit-h inner beveled edges. 26. These notches define a plurality of hinge lugs upon the said plate and the said lugs are also formed with tern'iinal beveled edges 28.

Mounted upon the inner side of the rim body near the extremity thereof provided with the notch 14 and arranged in spaced relation to the adjacent terminal of the said rim body is a hinge plate 29. This plate is similar to the hinge plates previously described and may be formed integral with the rim body or otherwise secured thereto. Formed on the plate are hinge lugs 30.

Connected to the plate 29 is a link plate 33 shown in detail in Fig. 6, o't the drawings. This link plate is, at the adjacent end thereof, provided with hinge lugs 34 mating with the hinge lug 30 of the plate 29 and connected therewith by a pivot pin .35extending through the said lugs. At its uter end, the plate 33 is formed with spaced hinge lugs 38 provided with tern'iiual beveled edges 39 and at the inner ends of the said lugs, the -plate is formed with a terminal bevelededge 40. The lugs 38 are arranged to mate vith thehinge lugs 27 of the plate 25 and pivotally connectmg the said lugs is a suitable pivot pin 41 extend ing through the lugs with the terminal beveled edges 28 of the lugs 27 adapted to mate with the beveled edge 40 of the plate and with the beveled edges 39 of the lugs 38 adapted to mate with the beveled edge 26 of the notches intheplate 25. As will now be seen, the rim sectlon 11 is hingedly connected at one end to one end of the rim valve stem. of a-tire and surrounding this opening is an upstanding locking boss 42 dapted, to coact with the plate 33 The outer vertical wall of this boss is upon the inner side of the boss undercut to provide a beveled edge 43. Formed through the plate 33 to receive the boss 42 is an opening- 44 and the wall of this opening is at the innerside of the-said opening, formed with a. beveled edge 45 adaptedto-coact-with the beveled edge 43 of thesaid boss. Extending longitudinally of the plate and communicating with the opening 44 is a slot 46 the purpose of which will presently appear. The plate is further formed upon its lower side and at the outer end thereof with a transverse locking" rib 47 which provides a from the preceding the hinge .rim section 11 and section will sWlng to fit inactive position between the ends of the rim body with the link plate 33 lying flat against the inner side of the rim. The rim maythus be readily expanded this connection, it is to be'observed that owing to the provision of the bevelededges 12 and 13 upon the meeting ends of the rim body and hinged rim section, the said rim section will not, when swung intoactiveposition, pinch or cutthe sides of the tire.- Furthermore, attention is directed. to the fact that when the hinged. rim 'section is swung into position between the ends of the rim body, the locking rib 47 upon the plate 33 will be shifted to engage within thev notch 14 of the rim body with the beveled 'willtend to obviate any. loosenessbetween the free ends of the hinged rim section and the rim body with the locking rib acting to hold the free extremity of the said rim section as well as the free extremity of the locking plate 33 against lateralmovement to engage the tire and in 1a and 38 of the said plates will also be moved into wedging engagement to beheld tightly in contact by the spring action of the rim body. At the same time,-the locking plate 33 will be shifted to receive the locking boss .1 4:2.through the opening 4* in the said plate witlrthe beveled edge 43 of the said locking boss wedged inengagement with the beveled edge 1150f the said opening. The rib will thus act'to lock the plate against accidental '20 upward displacement to free. the hinged tling.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown my improved rim applied to a conventional type of wheel 49 with a standard type of the 50 fitted to the rim and provided. with a valve stem 51. This stemis fitted loosely through the stem opening 41 in the rim body to project through the opening 44; in the link plate 33 and is, of course, received through the rim of the wheel in the usual 35, manner. For removing the tire, therim is displaced from the wheel when by prying upwardly upon the outer end of the hinged rinrsection 11, the said section may be readily displaced from between the ends of the rim body and thus permit the extremities of the rim body to contract for freeing the tire. In this connection, the purpose of theslot 46 in the'link plate 33 becomes apparent since it will be seen that when the valve stem 50 is in position. projecting through the openings t1 and 44 in the rim body and the said plate. respectively. the said stem will be received within the slot in the said plate when the plate is 50 swung upwardly for displacing the hinged rim section. iVhen the tire is initially applied to the rim, the portion of the tire adacent the ends of the, rim body will be relatively free. The valve stem may thus be readily inserted through the rim since owing to the position of the valve stem opening in the rim, the portion of the tire carrying the valve stem will always be arranged adjacent the ends of the rim body and will thus be free to manipulate.

'It will therefore be seen that I provide a particularly simple and efficient construction for the purpose set forth and an arrangement wherein the tire may be readily .5 placed upon or removed from the r1m. Fur

thermore, the hinge' connections I for the hinged rim section are arranged entirely upon the inner side of the rilnand within the side lines thereof so that when the rim 1S placed in position upon the wheel, the said connections will be housed between the rim and the rim of the wheel. This provides a construction making the accidental displacement of the hinged rim section impossible since the said rim section, being arranged to confront the wheel rim, will be revented from "pivoting inwardly by the run of the wheel.

Having, thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described including a split rim body, a rim section hingedly connected at one end to one end of the rim body, means hingedly connecting the other end of the said rim section to the opposite end of the rim body, the said rim section being movable to spread the 011(lr5'6f the body of the rim and fit between said ends, and means carried by the rim body andfengageable with said first mentioned means for locking the said first mentioned means to hold the said rim section against displacement, the said last mentioned means being adapted to receive a tire stem projecting from the outer side of'the rim therethrough and through the said first mentioned means.

A device of the character described including a split rim body, a rim section hingedly connected at one end to one end of the rim body. means hingedly connecting the other end of the said section to the opposite end of the rim body and movable with the rim section for spreading the ends of the body of the rim to dispose the rim section between said ends, the rim body being formed with a notch, and a shoulder carried by the said means to engage in said notch for locking the free extremity .of the rim section against transverse movement with respect to the rim body.

A device of the character described including a split rim body, a rim section hingedly connected at one'end to one end of i the rim body, means hingedly connecting the other end of the rim section to the ophingedly connected at one end to one end of the rim body. means hingedly connecting the other end of the run section to the opposite end of. the r1m body and formed "ends of the rim body.

5. A device of the character described ineluding a split rim body, a rim section hingedly connected at one end to one eX- tremity of the rim body, means hingedly' connecting the other end of the rim section to the opposite end of the rim body and provided with a slot terminating at one end in an opening, the rim body being formed with an opening, and a locking boss carried by the rim body to surround the said open-.

ing therein, the said means being movable with-the rim section to spread the ends of the body of the rim and shift said means to a position receiving the said boss through the said opening in said means, and engaging with the wall of the opening for locking the rim section against inward displacement, the rim section fitting between the ends of the rim body with the said openings adapted to receive a tire valve stem to be accommodated within said slot upon the movement of said means relative to the stem.

6. A device of the character described including a split rim body, a rim section, a hinged connection between the inner end of the rim section and one end of the rim body,

a link, a hinged connection between the inner end of the link and the opposite end of therim body, and a hinged connection between the outer ends of the link and rim section, one ofthe said hinged connections being forn'ied with inclinedshoulders, the

' rim section being movable to spread the ends of the body ot the rim and 'fit between said ends in position with the-said shoulders e0 acting for binding the link and rim section between the pivot points at their outer ends.

7. Adevice of the character described including a split rim' body,- a .rim section hinged atone end toone end of the rim bodyupon the inner side .t'ace thereof, and aflink plate hingedly connected at one end to'the outer end of the rim section and at its opposite end to the'other end of the rinr'body upon the inner side facethereof and in spaced relation to the adjacent endof the rim body, the said plate and rim section 00- acting to provide toggle members of substantially equal length standing at an obtuse angle with respect to each other in wardly fron'i the rim whereby a directoutward radial pressure may be brought to bear upon the meeting ends of the, said members forspreading the ends off-the rim body and shifting the rin'is'ection" to apo sition fitting between. the ends of the body.

8. A devicegof the class described .inchld:

ing a split rim body, a rim sectionswingingly connected adjacent one end to one end portion of the rim body, the rim-body being'tormed at one end with a notch, a link plate swingingly connecting the opposite'end portion of-the rim sectionwith'the other end portion of the rim body and adapted toeooperate with the rim section for spreading the extremities of the body of the rim and shifting the rim section to active position litt in g between the ends of the rim body, and

a laterally extending head formed on the link plate and adapted to en'gagein said notch in the active posltion ot' the lunged rim section for locking the free extremity of the rim section against transverse movement with respect to the rim body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JosErii i'.MMIenoN. as 

